I Journalled Everyday and It Changed My Life
Once I wrote in my first journal, I never stopped writing for myself.
Pen and paper writing has always been comforting to me. I challenge my hands to keep up with my thoughts, the latter always two paces faster than my scratching pen.
In my journey of individualization as I grow up, I’ve prioritized on strengthening my internal voice and showing up for myself. Journalling is one of the practices that are often echoed around as an essential aspect of self-discovery, and I have to say: it is providing me with more benefits than I expected.
It clears out my mental headspace.
Journalling allows you to be honest with your raw, inner voice as you shed the filters in your mind that makes you diplomatic to the community around you.
It does for me, as someone who strives to maintain a peaceful and harmonious environment.
You get to express your unbridled rage or disappointment without hurting anyone. It is a well known psychological study that suppressed emotions stay in the body (in fact, the notion is even reflected in the book The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk, which discusses serious impacts that traumatic situations bring about in an individual and the larger community).
If you find yourself having nowhere to turn to, or the people in your lives had enough of your unending rant about your workplace problems, this could be an outlet for you to unload your inner turmoil.
Self-discovery.
Writing helps me find answers for myself. When you write consistently in a period of time, you might find yourself touching a specific subject more often than you expected.
As such, you should take these issues into consideration: are you avoiding them in real life? Are these deterring your quality of life? Which party is the common denominator in your problems?
Your self-awareness would rise sharply as you get familiar with your pattern of behaviour. You are able to label yourself correctly, which in turn makes you a better storyteller of the events and its impacts on your life.
A sharper focus on personal goals and values.
In the business of improving oneself, it will require input of future expectations and planning towards your goals. Writing them down is a perfect way to keep them in your literal view and solidifying your plan. After some important self discovery moments, I had an idea of the type of person that I wanted to be.
I focused on values that I deemed important and apply it to my life journey, making tweaks on my mindset or choices when necessary to keep me on track. Similarly, when I’m in a rough spot and at the point of giving up, I am reminded of what and why I strive for.
Another great way to elevate your mindset when journalling is to practise positive affirmations of yourself. This is a great way of reprogramming your brain to form new neural connections and allows you to adapt to tough situations.
I am living proof that this works and it has amazed me ever since (if you are interested, you can read up on neuroplasticity(NOT AN EXPERT)).
A time capsule of your life.
Lastly, the accumulated journal entries would remain to be a time capsule of your life. How exciting is that? When I’m in my 60s, I would probably have gone through a lot, and rereading what 22-year-old me was worrying about will probably entertain me.
Besides, life is a rollercoaster. The good and bad phases of them can shed light about our reward system or coping mechanism.
I know some of my entries can make me cringe. Some made me proud of the choices and sacrifice that I’ve made. In general though, I love all versions of myself that has existed and brought me to this point in time.
Have you journalled before? What are your experiences with it? If you haven’t, do you wish to give it a try now?
